Missing Outer Banks Hiker Presumed Dead After Family Reveals He Was Battling a Terminal Illness

A North Carolina hiker who vanished along the Outer Banks while traveling with his dog is now believed to have died, according to his family, after personal belongings were discovered near the coastline.

Chris Palmer, 39, was reported missing earlier this month after his truck was found abandoned on a beach in the Outer Banks. Two weeks after his disappearance, his father, Bren Palmer, announced that the family has made the painful decision to end active search efforts, sharing new information that sheds light on the circumstances surrounding his son’s disappearance.

In a Facebook post dated January 24, Bren revealed that the family had recently learned Chris was facing a terminal illness — a revelation that helped them better understand his final decisions.

“Knowing this has helped us understand the choices he made,” Bren wrote. “Christopher loved the outdoors and cherished his independence. The treatments ahead would have taken much of that away, and he did not want that future for himself.”

Authorities later confirmed that Chris’s personal belongings were recovered near the shoreline, leading the family to believe he likely entered the ocean and did not survive.

“Our family believes our son perished in the sea,” Bren said. “As heartbreaking as this is, we have found a measure of peace in that understanding.”

Search Efforts and Timeline

Chris was officially declared missing on January 12 after his truck was discovered on a North Carolina beach, three days after he last contacted his family. According to the National Park Service (NPS), he was believed to be traveling with his German shepherd, Zoey, at the time.

Investigators later reviewed Dare County traffic camera footage and determined that Palmer’s vehicle had been in the area as early as January 9. Video showed a blue and white kayak in the back of the truck earlier that day, though the kayak was no longer present when the vehicle was found.

Prior to his disappearance, Chris had been camping in the Smoky Mountains with his dog — something his father said was routine for him.

“He does a lot of camping in national forests,” Bren previously explained. “He always let us know where he was going and when he planned to return.”

Communication between Chris and his family had been regular until January 9, when he mentioned that his phone signal had become unreliable. The next discovery of his truck — hours away in the opposite direction of his planned travel — immediately raised concern.

Family Thanks Search Teams and Community

Bren Palmer expressed deep gratitude to the volunteers and first responders who assisted in the search, including the United Cajun Navy and National Park Service teams who used infrared drones to scan the area near Buxton.

“It has been profoundly humbling to see so many people care for someone they never met,” he wrote. “Our family is at peace and asks that Christopher’s memory and the safety of others be respected as we seek closure.”

The family also hopes Chris’s story raises awareness about the emotional and mental toll that serious medical diagnoses can carry.

“We are deeply proud of the man Christopher was,” Bren said. “We hope his story brings understanding to the silent struggles people face when confronting life-altering illness.”